English
clarion
Clarion comes from Old French claron ‘clarion (trumpet)’, from Latin clārus ‘audible’, and ultimately from Proto-Indo-European *kelh₁- ‘to call, summon’.
- Proto-Indo-Europeanc. 4500–2500 BCE*kelh₁-‘to call, summon’reconstructed
- Latinc. 75 BCE–200 CEclārus‘audible’
- Medieval Latinc. 600–1500clāriōn
- Old Frenchc. 842–1400claron‘clarion (trumpet)’
- Middle Englishc. 1150–1500clarion
- Englishearliest quotation 1667same form
attested reconstructed ? uncertain or disputed
Lineage
- Proto-Indo-Europeanc. 4500–2500 BCE*kelh₁-‘to call, summon’reconstructed
- Latinc. 75 BCE–200 CEclārus‘audible’
- Medieval Latinc. 600–1500clāriōn
- Old Frenchc. 842–1400claron‘clarion (trumpet)’
- Middle Englishc. 1150–1500clarion
- Englishearliest quotation 1667same form
Earliest quotation: 1667, John Milton, Book I: “Then ſtrait commands that at the warlike ſound /…”
The story
The noun is derived from Middle English clarion, clarioun (‘trumpet with a narrow tube and a shrill sound, clarion; clarion player’) [and other forms], from Old French claron, clarïon (‘clarion’) [and other forms], from Medieval Latin clāriōn, clario, clārōn (‘clarion; trumpet’), from Latin clārus (‘audible; clear, distinct, loud; (visually) bright, clear’), ultimately from Proto-Indo-European *kelh₁- (‘to call, summon; to cry’).
Linked words
through Proto-Indo-European *kelh₁- ‘to call, summon’
low, hell, claim, classic, calendar, haul, reconciliation, reconcile, classify, proclamation, squeal, reclamation, exclamation, irreconcilable, clamour, clamor, ecclesiastic, ecclesial, clas, conciliar, 39 more
through Latin clārus ‘audible’
Today it means
noun A medieval brass instrument chiefly used as a battle signal; related to the trumpet, it had a narrow, straight pipe and a high-pitched, piercing sound.
Language periods are conventional ranges, not dates for this word.
Etymograph / Proto-Indo-European *kelh₁- / clarion